How Can You Help Your Parent Make the Most of Rehab After Stroke?

May 12, 2017 Becky Moultrie

Caring for an elderly adult after they suffer from a stroke can be extremely challenging. While they can occur extremely quickly and with little to no warning, strokes can have a devastating impact that can linger for the rest of your parent’s life. For some seniors, rehabilitation can be an important first step in the recovery process. Helping your parent to make the most out of rehab after a stroke can improve their recovery and help to restore their health and functioning faster.

Use these tips to help your parent make the most of rehab after stroke:

• Ensure the program is right for your parent. Work closely with your senior’s doctor to ensure that the program that you select for your parent is right for their particular needs as they recover from their stroke. This includes making sure that your loved one is ready to participate fully to get the most benefit.

• Be supportive of them throughout. No matter how long your elderly loved one is in rehab, make sure that they know that you are there for them and that you are supportive. Provide emotional encouragement and love to keep them motivated to participate in the way that is right for them and their needs.

• Start preparing their home. While your senior is still in rehab, start working to prepare their home for their return. Let your parent know what you are doing so that they can look ahead to their life when they come home. This can help to keep them focused and motivated in their recovery.

Starting home care for your elderly loved one can be an exceptional way to help your parent achieve and maintain a better quality of life as they age in place. By creating a schedule that is customized not just to your elderly loved one’s needs and challenges, but also to their individuality, goals, thoughts, and preferences, this care provider can help your parent to have the lifestyle that is right for them. An in-home senior care services provider can give your parent a highly personalized set of services tailored to helping them stay safe, healthy, comfortable, and secure, while also encouraging them to remain as independent, active, and engaged as possible. This can include encouraging them to make good lifestyle choices such as eating a healthy, balanced diet, providing safe and reliable transportation to where they need and want to go, and supporting their participation in physical activities that they enjoy and that will help them to maintain better health. This care provider can also provide companionship and support to encourage better mental and emotional health and well-being throughout their later years, as well as reminders to help them remain compliant with their doctor’s instructions as they either work to reduce their risk of stroke or work toward recovery. If your parent has suffered a stroke, starting home care as soon as possible can help to create the environment of management, support, and healing that they need to comply with their doctor’s orders and focus on getting better.